2015: Atiku, Lamido in secret meeting

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday held a secret meeting with the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, at the Government House in Dutse, the state capital.

Atiku arrived at the Government House to a rousing welcome by his supporters who were seen carrying banners and placards eulogizing him.

One of the placards read: ‘2015: Mai Raba Gardama’, meaning ‘the problem solver or the solution to the crisis’.

The former vice president and All Progressives Congress ( APC) stalwart, who was billed to spend the night in Dutse en route Hadejia for the wedding ceremony of the daughter of Matawallen Hadejia, Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed.

Atiku was also received by the entire members of the Jigawa state Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Audu Dauda Karkarna.

Although it was not clear if the meeting between the former vice president and Sule Lamido was related to politics, sources in the political circles in the state capital said it was not unconnected with permutations for the 2015 polls.

Our correspondent gathered that the former vice president was in Dutse on the invitation of Governor Lamido.

Atiku, who did not field questions from newsmen, was quickly ushered into the Presidential Lodge of the Government House, where the meeting held. Similarly, attempts to speak to some of the associates and aides of the former VP who travelled with him to Jigawa on their mission, failed as they declined comments.

While there is wide speculation that Atiku is eyeing the presidential ticket of the opposition APC, ahead of the 2015 elections, there are indications that the Jigawa governor may also throw his hat into the ring on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It would be recalled that some groups across the country have been calling on Lamido to vie for the PDP presidential ticket against the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, who though has yet to officially declare his intention to run for a second term.